I cannot give a very good account of myself this morning. A considerable time was taken up in Marketing which I do generally once a week for the whole of the succeeding one. And my purchases seem to me to grow on a larger scale every day. At my Office, I pursued my usual exercises, and had one or two interruptions from bills. I also went down to see my friends Davis and Quincy to ask them to dine with me but found only the former. I then took a short walk though the day was fine and I ought to have taken a long one.

Afternoon at home quietly. Read the greater part of the Dedication to Stigliz and was much struck with it. It deserves study, not reading. Price Greenleaf from Quincy called to pay me a short visit and to offer his services which I think I shall avail myself of for the purpose of the horticulture of my Father’s Estate.1

Evening. Continued reading the Canterbury Tales with the Scotsman’s Tale, with which I was much pleased. Indeed I have admired them all though I think I see a good deal of difference in them. Read over afterwards the 19th book of the Iliad, the reviews and the Spectator.

Morning fine. I went to the Office as usual. But I can give no very good account of the disposal of my time. Mr. Curtis called and paid me my Fees for a considerable portion of all the Law business I did last year. Little or nothing of any consequence besides. Next week I must turn over a new leaf. Took a walk before returning home.

Mr. Davis and E. Blake dined with me and we had a very pleasant time. It consumed so large a portion of my Afternoon however that I did nothing except finish the Dedication to Stigliz and the Preface to the Rhetorical Works. On the whole my day cannot be said to have been a very profitable one, but I have of late discovered that I have hardly seen company enough. And that in order to keep up the proper quantity of social feeling I ought to devote at least one day in the week to it.

Read a little to my Wife in the evening but not much as we finished the Scotsman’s Tale and had nothing else to go on with. I afterwards began writing a letter to my father but had only time enough to finish one page. Somehow my facility of letter writing is 221decreasing from want of practice. Finished the Evening with the Spectators.